STEPPING IN.. WHEN IT COMES TO STEPPING UP EMISSIONS STANDARDS FOR REFINERIES. THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY SAYS IT'S NEEDED TO PROTECT PUBLIC HEALTH. AND AT LEAST ONE LOCAL WATCHDOG GROUP IS SAYING IT'S ABOUT TIME. MY STORY IS ALL NEW AT 10. WHEN YOU LIVE IN THE SHADOW OF AN OIL REFINERY .. HOW IT COULD IMPACT YOUR HEALTH IS NEVER FAR FROM YOUR MIND. the air quality isn't that good if you have asthma or sinus problems.. IN LOUISIANA OIL COMPANIES ARE ALLOWED TO SELF-REPORT WHEN IT COMES TO ACCIDENTS, SPILLS OR LEAKS. 4:25 So would you tell a police officer when you've been speeding? Of course you wouldn't .. So we've got a real problem here in louisiana. That there is a lot of pollution happening. And of course the refineries do not tell on themselves. 41 IT'S BEEN A PROBLEM FOR YEARS SAYS ANN ROLFES WITH THE LOUISIANA BUCKET BRIGADE.. AN ENVIRONMENTAL WATCHDOG GROUP THAT HAS BEEN PUSHING FOR STRONGER REGULATIONS. 1:15 we've had to work for a long time to get the epa to take these steps.. And what is really telling.. Is the technology to control pollution exists. So the oil refineries..are being forced to do something ..to protect everybody's health.. A NEW EPA PROPOSAL WOULD, FOR THE FIRST TIME, REQUIRE MONITORING OF AIR CONCENTRATIONS OF BENZENE AROUND THE FENCE-LINE PERIMETER OF REFINERIES TO ENSURE EMISSIONS ARE CONTROLLED AND RESULTS MADE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC. IT WOULD ALSO REQUIRE UPGRADED EMISSION CONTROLS FOR STORAGE TANKS AND PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS FOR FLARES TO ENSURE THAT WASTE GASES ARE PROPERLY DESTROYED. EPA ADMINISTRATOR GINA MCCARTHY SAID "The common-sense steps we are proposing will protect the health of families who live near refineries and will provide them with important information about the quality of the air they breathe." WHEN THE UPDATES ARE FULLY IMPLEMENTED..TH E EPA ESTIMATES TOXIC AIR EMISSIONS WOULD BE REDUCED BY 5,600 TONS PER YEAR. VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUND EMISSIONS WOULD BE CUT BY APPROXIMATELY 52,000 TONS PER YEAR. 6:47 there is no question louisiana is far behind where we ought to be as far as pollution control is concerned. 54 and yet you have to applaud a baby step when you see it. 58 THE AMERICAN FUEL AND PETROCHEMICAL MANUFACTURERS PRESIDENT CHARLES DREVNA SAIND IN A STATEMENT THURSDAY THAT THE RISK OF AIR CONTAMINATION 'DOES NOT JUSTIFY' NEW EPA CONTROLS.

A Justice Department civil rights investigation has concluded that the Ferguson Police Department and the city's municipal court engaged in a "pattern and practice" of discrimination against African-Americans, targeting them disproportionately for tr...